PUBLIC NOTICE OF DRAFT DISCHARGE PERMIT AND 208 PLAN, PERMIT NUMBER AR0000647, AFIN 70-00016
In accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 8-4-203(e), the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (E&E) – Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Office of Water Quality, gives the following notice:
Lion Oil Company, LLC - El Dorado Refinery operates a facility located as follows: 1000 McHenry, El Dorado, AR 71730 in Union County. The facility is currently permitted to discharge process wastewater and stormwater into Loutre Creek, thence to Bayou de Loutre, thence to the Ouachita River (Outfalls 001, 002, 004, 005, 006, and 007) and to discharge process wastewater and stormwater into the Ouachita River (Outfall 010). All outfalls are in Segment 2D of the Ouachita River Basin. Lion Oil Company, LLC - El Dorado Refinery submitted an application on October 8, 2008, with an updated application submitted July 11, 2024 and all additional data submitted by April 9, 2025 for the renewal of NPDES Permit No. AR0000647. The application has been reviewed by DEQ’s Office of Water Quality and has received tentative approval subject to the terms of this notice.
The 208 Plan, developed by DEQ under provisions of Section 208 of the federal Clean Water Act, is a comprehensive program to work toward achieving federal water goals in Arkansas. The initial 208 Plan, adopted in 1979, provides for annual updates, but can be revised more often if necessary. The following updates to the 208 Plan have been proposed: These changes have also been incorporated into the draft discharge permit.
1. The monthly average CBOD5 limit was revised from 24 mg/l to 10 mg/l during October - May at Outfall 001.
2. The monthly average NH3-N limit was revised from 9 mg/l to 6.8 mg/l during November - March at Outfall 001.
3. The monthly average NH3-N limit was revised from 9 mg/l to 2.4 mg/l during April at Outfall 001.
4. The monthly average NH3-N limit was revised from 9 mg/l to 2 mg/l during May and October at Outfall 001.
5. The year-round instantaneous minimum DO limit was removed at Outfall 010 to match the permit.
Citizens wishing to examine or obtain copies of the permit application, the draft permitting decision, the Fact Sheet or the 208 Plan may do so at the E&E headquarters located at 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317. To request a copy of one or more of the documents, please call (501) 682-0622. For those with internet access, a copy of the proposed draft permit as well as the publication date may be found on DEQ’s website at: https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/permits/drafts_pn.aspx
Comments on the draft permit will be accepted in accordance with Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (PC&EC) Rule 8.208, codified at 8 CAR § 11-208. DEQ’s contact person for submitting written comments on the draft permit, or 208 Plan, or requesting a public hearing on the draft permit, or the proposed changes to the 208 Plan, is Zachary Carroll, at the above address and telephone number, or by email at EE.WaterComment@arkansas.gov.
The period for submitting comments on the draft permit, or 208 Plan, and for requesting a public hearing, shall begin on the date of publication of the public notice, and end at 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on the 30th day after the publication date. If the last day of the comment period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the public comment period shall expire on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. For information regarding the actual publication date along with the actual date and time the comment period will end, please contact Zachary Carroll at the above address and telephone number or by email at EE.WaterComment@arkansas.gov. Public notice, comments, and hearings will be conducted in accordance with Rules. 6.104(A)(5) [40 C.F.R. §§ 124.10 through 124.12 by reference] and 8.207 through 8.210 (Administrative Procedures), codified at 8 CAR § 25-104 and 8 CAR §§ 11-207 through 210. All persons, including the permittee, who wish to comment on DEQ’s draft permitting decision must submit written comments to DEQ, along with their name and mailing address. A public hearing will be held when DEQ finds a significant degree of public interest. After the public comment period, DEQ will issue a final permitting decision. DEQ will notify the applicant and each person who has submitted written comments or requested notice of the final permitting decision. Any interested person who has submitted comments may appeal a final decision by DEQ in accordance with the PC&EC Rule 8, codified at 8 CAR Part 11.
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